Overnight floods in areas around Cape Town have temporarily displaced about 600 people, an emergency services spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Geoff Laskey said heavy rains had affected about 20 shacks in Khayelitsha and about 100 shacks in Freedom Park in Mitchells Plain.
”Twenty shacks were affected in Khayelitsha and about 100 people were displaced. Around 100 shacks were affected in Freedom Park in Mitchells Plain and about 500 people were displaced,” he said.
”They have been supplied with blankets and shelter.”
Laskey said there had been widespread problems on roads in the areas around Cape Town.
”We have had widespread problems with flooded roads in Mitchells Plain, the Strand and Gordon’s Bay. There have also been power failures in the City Bowl area and
in Seekoeivlei.”
He said traffic generally seemed to be running well on the roads in and around Cape Town despite the floods and a strike by rail workers, which has left thousands of people stranded.
Laskey said disaster management teams were on standby in case of emergencies caused by the floods.
”People don’t need to panic,” Laskey said.
”All the precautions are standard and the rains are just part of another Cape winter.” – Sapa